Mike's Mission Story by Mike Bledsoe
In 1977, I had a young family and the beginnings of a successful banking career. To that point, my spiritual world was very limited. I was committed to following Jesus and to being a godly husband and father but never really considered that I could be involved in missions.
I was challenged to think beyond our local church with a vision for reaching the world, to commit whatever I could to help fulfill the Great Commission. I told God to “count me in.” I must admit, I didn’t understand what that meant or even what the possibilities could be.
In my career I was given a good promotion one year later and I was able to be actively involved in business based ministry and was growing spiritually. Then… my banking career came to a screeching halt due to mergers and acquisitions. So, I did what any sound minded Spirit-filled man would do: I started two new businesses and I was making one-third of the income that I had previously. But, I still had an aching to be involved in missions.
Between the banking and starting the businesses, my wife and I went on a short-term mission trip to Romania serving as a business consultant. Through that experience, God gripped my heart for the world. God continued to allow us to be involved in missions even when we didn’t have the personal resources to make it happen. Over the past 27 years, God has allowed us to be involved in missions in Romania, Moldova, Germany, Sweden, Ukraine and the Philippines.
God put a desire in me to be involved in missions. There is no way that I could have orchestrated the mission’s ministry that He has given us. You never know how God will take a small commitment and turn it into a lifetime journey.
